You see, Mr. 'Oward, pleasures should never be made
necessities, when the circumstances of a gentleman's life may perhaps
require that they shall be abandoned for prolonged periods. In your line
of life, Mr. 'Oward, which has its objections, smoking may be pretty well
a certainty." Mr. Cann, as he made these remarks, skipped about the room,
and gave point to his argument by touching Mr. Howard's waistcoat with the
end of his cane.
"And now, Billy, how about the young woman?"
"I haven't set eyes on her these six weeks, Mr. 'Oward. I never see her
but once in my life, Mr. 'Oward; or, maybe, twice, for one's memory is
deceitful; and I don't know that I ever wish to see her again. She ain't
one of my sort, Mr. 'Oward. I likes 'em soft, and sweet, and coming. This
one, she has her good p'ints about her, as clean a foot and ankle as I'd
wish to see; but, laws, what a nose, Mr. 'Oward. And then for manner;
she's no more manner than a stable dog."
"She's in London, Billy?"
"How am I to know, Mr. 'Oward?"
"What's the good, then, of your coming here?" asked Gager, with no little
severity in his voice.
"I don't know as it is good.
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